Libyan intelligence agent Abdel Basset al-Megrahi after stepping aboard the Libyan aircraft that would whisk him away to Libya, August 20. Did 'the powers that be' decide that pursuing the best leads after the Lockerbie bombing, aka/Pan Am Flight 103, was politically inconvenient? According to this analysis by Pierre Prier of France's Le Figaro, the need to keep Iran and … [Read more...] about Persuasive Leads in Favor of Lockerbie Convict Were Overlooked: Le Figaro, France
In Search For A Statesman
As the nation pays its final respect for the life and times of Sen. Edward Kennedy it has become clear to me we will never again see a politician of his stature grace the halls of Congress. That is sad. What struck me was the litany of friends and foes alike who all agreed on one basic principle: Ted Kennedy was a man of his word. He was passionate in his beliefs even though … [Read more...] about In Search For A Statesman
[Updated] Are Some People Really This … Misunderstood?
Within the last month or so, we had a string of comments and even a few posts wherein labels like "stupid" were attached to one or another derided group or individual. As the so-called "managing editor" of this blog, I sent a friendly reminder to our contributing writers that we (at the very least) should not contribute to the careless proliferation of such labels. I won't … [Read more...] about [Updated] Are Some People Really This … Misunderstood?
Jaws, the Bank Version
Too-big-to-fail is morphing into bigger-than-ever swallowing up failing-faster-than-ever. The nation's largest banks, infused with taxpayer billions, are feasting on the weak as the Washington Post reports that "no consequence of the crisis alarms top regulators more than having banks that were already too big to fail grow even larger and more interconnected." FDIC chair … [Read more...] about Jaws, the Bank Version
Live Video Streaming of Ted Kennedy Funeral
Here's CBS live streaming video of Ted Kennedy's funeral: Free TV : Ustream … [Read more...] about Live Video Streaming of Ted Kennedy Funeral
Even Camelot Needed Health Care (Guest Voice)
Even Camelot Needed Health Care by Michael Winship Toward the end of George McGovern's failed presidential bid in 1972, I was helping advance a bus trip for vice presidential candidate Sargent Shriver. The final weekend of the campaign, his caravan would start in New Hampshire and work its way down the Eastern seaboard, holding rallies along the way and winding up … [Read more...] about Even Camelot Needed Health Care (Guest Voice)
Death Panel
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Death Panel
New York State of Mind
Siena Research recently concluded their sweeping August poll of New Yorkers' political leanings and the results contain some shocks and some yawns, as usual. Two things are obvious, though. First, having given total control executive and legislative power to the party of the Donkey, Empire State denizens are absolutely sick of the Democrats they elected. Second, they are still … [Read more...] about New York State of Mind
Of Hunger in World War II: Rat-Proofing The Walls By Using Tin Cans
In the imagination of a young soldier, there was this one extraordinary midnight the Yanks liberated fifty middle-aged Brit officers captured and held by the Germans in dreary sheds at the Czechoslovak border. "The British officers were among the first English speaking prisoners to be taken in WWII.... They had not seen a woman or a child for four years... They hadn’t seen … [Read more...] about Of Hunger in World War II: Rat-Proofing The Walls By Using Tin Cans
LIFTOFF !!
The third time seems to be the charm as the Space Shuttle Discovery roared off the pad shortly before midnight Florida time. Soaring with it was migrant farm worker turned astronaut Jose Hernandez. He was quoted as saying that as high as he will be flying tonight his parents will probably be flying even higher. I can just imagine how correct he is. Imagine starting out life … [Read more...] about LIFTOFF !!
By Any Other Name
Ronald Bailey at Reason objects to Ezra Klein's objection to Charles Krauthammer's repetition of the rightist canard that government-funded health care will lead to rationing. … [Read more...] about By Any Other Name
Happy Friday
You may think you've got it bad, but at least you're not part of the next generation of punk rock. Think about the low points of your life, then watch this video and just be glad you are who and where you are. (Warning: Some inappropriate language, so avoid if that would offend.) I'm Fat and Nobody Likes Me … [Read more...] about Happy Friday
Joseph McCarthy and the ‘Martyrdom’ of Hollywood: Rceczpospolita, Poland
Senator Joe McCarthy covers the microphone as he listens to his nearly-as-notorious legal aide, Roy Cohen, in 1954. Is Hollywood being too hard on America's one-time anti-communist crusader, Senator Joseph McCarthy? Furthermore, is the 'factory of dreams' too kind to those whose lives the late senator ruined? In the newspaper Rceczpospolita, Poland's very own … [Read more...] about Joseph McCarthy and the ‘Martyrdom’ of Hollywood: Rceczpospolita, Poland
China Must Stop Relying on U.S. Justice to Halt Bribery: Beijing News, People’s Republic of China
In this surprisingly critical article from China's state-controlled Xinjingbao [Beijing News], the author castigates the authorities for relying on foreign justice to identify graft - and for failing to pursue those who have taken bribes from American companies. Given the appearance of this article in the state-controlled press, one can assume that Beijing has been embarrassed … [Read more...] about China Must Stop Relying on U.S. Justice to Halt Bribery: Beijing News, People’s Republic of China
The NFL Does A Sandlot Do Over
Remember those kid sandlot games we played where the oak tree was the goal line on one side of the field and the public restroom the goal line on the other. The sidelines were marked by Fatso's dad's Chevy on one side and Jimmy's mom's lawn chair on the other. Any disputes over the mock gridiron's imaginary chalk lines were settled with a do over. Folks, welcome to the … [Read more...] about The NFL Does A Sandlot Do Over
More Over The Top Rhetoric
It's barely political debate or discussion any more -- it's pure polemics and varying degrees of demonization. … [Read more...] about More Over The Top Rhetoric
Bernanke Does A Cheney
We've all heard the same argument in different contexts—the argument that the public has no right or need to know important information because some officials think it would hurt the public's interests if the information got out. We've heard it when the issue is police brutality. Oh, no, we're told, if that's examined too closely, it would hurt the morale of police officers … [Read more...] about Bernanke Does A Cheney
What Secrets Lie Behind Redacted Portions of CIA Report?
Daphne Eviatar at The Washington Independent reports that ABC's Brian Ross and Matthew Cole were told by a former CIA intelligence official that the blacked-out sections contain information about three detainees who died while under CIA interrogation, and an unspecified number whose whereabouts are unknown: … [Read more...] about What Secrets Lie Behind Redacted Portions of CIA Report?
Jonathan Chait On Who, Or What, Is Really to Blame for the Whole Health-Care Debacle
Well, the Republicans are to blame, of course. But, for Democrats, here's some much-needed perspective from TNR's Jon Chait: The Senate is what controls the process. That's the chokepoint for any health care bill. The question isn't how badly Obama wants a public plan, or how much he cares about bipartisanship. It's whether moderate to conservative Democrats in the Senate … [Read more...] about Jonathan Chait On Who, Or What, Is Really to Blame for the Whole Health-Care Debacle
Is The Economy Looking Up?
Three indicators suggest the answer may be yes. First, orders for durable goods jumped 4.5 percent from June to July, the largest gain in two years. … [Read more...] about Is The Economy Looking Up?